Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-01-21

| sufficient to command respect. III the
! little pittance which the State now doles
| out were increased to "A respectable sum,
| good results would be at once apparent.
| The taxpayers, however, will not tax
! themselves for school purposes volunta-
rily A few might be willing to do so,
| strong majority.
The counties cannot be depended upon
TO add sufficient TO what they receive
| from the State to provide good schools.
| Some might do so if the subject were
| properly agitated, but the great majority
OF them would not. The only way to get
sufficient school fund for the whole
State is to levy State tax for the support
| of schools. There is only one objection
| TO this, and that is that the taxes of honest
taxpayers would be increased while tax
dodgers would receive additional benefits
without bearing additional burdens. 1t
| is notimprObable, however, that the Legis-
lature, in providing for a school tax, will
also provide for securing an honest as
sessment OF property.
At the last meeting OF the Legislature
q
Educational Committee authorizing one
mill tax for school purposes. 1t was not
reported for the reason that the commit
tee thought that the educational laws
ought to be thoroughly revised before in
creasing the school tax.
The committee, however, reached the
conclusion that the present system ia
about as bad as 1t can be, and that it
ought to be- thoroughly overhauled and
corrected. A subcommittee was APP
pointed to make careful investigation
OF the workings of the present school
system, and the laws relating to educa-
ton, with instructions to present a re-
port of its findings, together with such
recommendations as it may deem advisa.
Bile, 10 the full committee at the meeting
of the Legislature in July.
The subcommittee consists OF r. A.
Denny, of Floyd; c. NJ. Gambler, of De-
Kalb; J. f. Schofield, of Bib; j. H. Pitt
man, Of TrOup, and T. c. Williams, of
Jackson s,,ga. +.
The Rome Bulletin few days ago pub
lished az interview with the chairman OF
tn e subcommittee, Mr.. Denny, in which
the plan OF action of the committee is out
lined. The first thing to be done, says
Mr. DsA4yI, is to interests7the press
throughout the State in the work OF the
committee. "Then the chairman will get
up series Of questions in printed form.
The QUESTIONS and answers to them will
thoroughly yentilate the present school
system as operated in the various coun-
ties of the State. The printed questions
will be sent not only to members OF the
General Assembly, but also to the boards
Of education In each county in the State.
Each member of the committee
Will investigate in his own local
ity and report any ideas, information or
suggestion he may get. Our purpose is
TO meet two days before the summer SEES
sion OF the Legislature, and thoroughly
examine everything which has resulted
from this investigation, and frame our
report, either by bill or otherwise. to per-
feet the present system or to lnaugurate
a new one. There is one other thing we
purpose doing. 1t is to get the school
laws OF such States in the Union as are
now working most satisfactorily, so as to
have the benefit of them in our work
We hope to present a report that will not
only command the approval of the Legis-
lature but which will give Georgia a
common school system that Will be equal
to that OF any other state in the Union"
Mr.. Denny, in the course OF his inter-
view, further said: 81 would like 10 have
suggestions from anybody, particularly
from teachers. The committee is open to
all sorts of information in the nature OF
either complaints or praise. Its idea is
that plan can be devised for the State
by taking the present school fund and add
ing TO 1t the additional one-tentb OF / per
cent. that was asked for by the bill that
was Introduced, that will keep frst-class
schools open six months in the year.
think one thing will more than likely be
inaugurated, and that is teachers insti-
tutes throughout the State. The coun-
ties of the state will be divided into in
sttute districts, in like manner as they
are now divided into Senatorial districts,
and the teachers OF each one OF these dis
tricts will meet annually for the purpose
normal education. In that way teach
ers Will be educated far above their pres
ent standard. This is one Of the features
the committee hopes 10 embody IN its
report. Other features will present
themselves as the work of the commit
tee progresses"
Mr.. Denny appears to be very enthusi-
astic in the work he has undertaken, and
! 1t is understood that his associates on the
committee are also very strong in their
belief that there IS nothing Of which the
| state stands in so much need as better
educetiona! advantages. Better teach
ers, better school houses, and deeper
! interest in educational matters are de-
manded. ii Mr.. Denny and his commit.
Tee succeed in giving the State these
things they will be entitled to promi-
nent place in the states history.
Editor Joseph Pulitzer, Of the New York
World, has got 500, 900 libel suit on his
lands. The plaintiff is "a woman with
millions Of money, and she is very mad
The World published story about heI